Within the Discussion Board component, there are three different levels: Discussion Board, Forum, and Thread. Discussion Boards are found on the Control Panel, under Course Tools. Each board has Forums, which are areas of most specific focus for discussion (see example below). And then finally users post to the Forum by creating a Thread, which users can use to interact with each other by replying to each others' posts.

For instructions with photos, please visit this page.


Example of Discussion board vs Forum vs Thread
So, in this example there is one Discussion Board called Book 1. Within that there are two forums: Chapter Summaries and Theme 1. There are then Threads within the forum, which is where people actually post and discuss.

Discussion Board: Book 1
Forum: Chapter Summaries
Threads: Chapter 1, Chapter 2, etc.
Forum: Theme 1
Threads: John’s examples, MaryBeth’s Examples



Create a Discussion Board Forum in a Content Area/Folder
Please note that you are not creating a Discussion Board, rather you are creating a Forum that is added to the default course Discussion Board. To create additional Discussion Boards, you must create a Group and enroll students in it.
  • Go to a Content Area/Folder
    • Blackboard courses come with two default Content Areas: Content and Information, located on the Left Menu
  • Click Tools tab
  • Click Discussion Board
  • Click Create New Forum
  • Fill in name and other necessary information
  • Select Yes by Available
  • Select any Standard Options wanted
  • Select any Advanced Options wanted
  • Click Submit
  • Select the Discussion Board in the Select a Discussion Board Forum box
  • Click Next
  • Fill in name and other necessary information
  • Set Availability
  • Select any Standard Options wanted
  • Select any Advanced Options wanted
  • Click Submit


Create a Forum within a Discussion Board Using the Control Panel
  • Open the Control Panel on the Left Menu
  • Click Course Tools
  • Click Discussion Board
  • Select a Discussion Board
  • Click Create Forum
  • Fill in name and other necessary information
  • Set Availability
  • Select any Standard Options Wanted
  • Select any Advanced Options wanted
  • Click Submit


Link to a Previously Made Discussion Board Forum
  • Go to a Content Area/Folder
    • Blackboard course come with two default Content Areas: Content and Information, located on the Left Menu
  • Click Tools tab
  • Click Discussion Board
  • Select “Select a Discussion Board Forum”
  • Select the Discussion Board from the Select A Discussion Board Forum box
  • Click Next
  • Fill in name and other necessary information
  • Set Availability
  • Select any Standard Options wanted
  • Click Submit


Link to Discussion Board Page
  • Go to a Content Area/Folder
    • Blackboard course come with two default Content Areas: Content and Information, located on the Left Menu
  • Click Tools tab
  • Click Discussion Board
  • Select Link to Discussion Board Page
  • Fill in name and other necessary information
  • Set Availability
  • Select any Standard Options wanted
  • Click Submit


Delete a forum using the control panel
  • Open the Control Panel on the Left Menu
  • Click Course Tools
  • Click Discussion Board
  • Select a Discussion Board
  • Select the forums to be deleted
  • Click Delete
  • Click OK


Advanced Options

Viewing Threads/Replies: There are two options here: Standard View and an option requiring students to post a thread before they can see other threads. If participants are required to create threads in order to view other threads in the forum, they cannot delete or edit their own posts, and cannot post anonymously. Those options will be set for you automatically.
Grade: This option allows you to choose whether the Forum will be graded, or if you would like to grade individual Threads. If you choose to grade the Threads, it will turn off participants ability to post new Threads.
Subscribe: This allows users to subscribe to a specific Forums or Threads, and receive email notifications about new posts.
Create and Edit: This option defines what participants can do with their posts; if they can edit or delete posts, or add attachments, etc.
Additional Options: This option determines whether participants can tag posts or rate them.